Electric switch



H. E. NORVIEL ELECTRIC SWITCH Nov. 27, 1934.

Filed Nov. 21, 1951 Patented Nov. 27, 1934 ELECTRIC SWITCH Harry E. Norviel, Anderson, Ind., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Application November 21, 1931, Serial No. 576,535

4 Claims.

This invention relates to switching mechanisms and more particularly to switching mechanism that is mounted on the lower end of a I steering column of an automobile and to be op- 5 erated by a rod extending through the column and connected with a handle adjacent the hub of the steering wheel for the purpose of controlling the lighting circuit of the automotive vehicle.

One object of the present invention is the provision of an improved assembly of the actuating means of the switching mechanism for moving a movable contact into and out of engagement with the stationary contacts or terminals.

Another object of the present invention is to provide elastic means for holding a cover or inclosure in looking engagement to a switch mechanism support to protect the terminal connections of the switch from adverse weather condi- O tions, and in which the cover may be removed for ready inspection of the terminal connections without disturbing their relative association.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein a preferred embodiment of one form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the, drawing:

Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view of the switch mechanism taken substantially on the line 1--1 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 2 is a rear end view of the switch embodying the present invention looking in the direction of arrow 2 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3, 4 and are sectional views taken on the lines 33, 4-4 and 5-5 respectively of Fig. 1.

Figs. 6 and '7 are sectional views taken on the lines 6-6 and 77 respectively of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form of the present invention.

Referring to the drawing, a rod is rotatable within a hollow steering column (not shown). The lower end of this rod extends below the steering column and is connected with a switch mechanism, and its upper end terminates in the hub of a steering wheel and connected to an actuating handle (not shown).

The switch comprises a mounting cup 21 having a flat end wall 22 and a cylindrical side wall 23. The end wall 22 is provided with a plurality of loops or raised portions 24 with adjacent apertures 25 to receive tongues or tangs 26 formed on one of the peripheral edges of a switch housing or casing 2'7. The tangs 26 pass through the apertures 25 and are bent or pressed outwardly to hold the housing 27 upon the wall 22, as illustrated in Fig. 7. The housing 27 has tangs 28 at the other peripheral edge thereof to be received in notches 29 located on the outer edge of a non-conducting switch back or plate 30. The tangs 28 are bent over to retain the plate 30 and the switching mechanism in assembled relation. The plate 30 carries stationary switch contacts 31 which secure terminals 32 to the plate in any suitable manner, such as staking or otherwise, as indicated in Fig. 1.

The stationary contacts 31 are adapted to be engaged by a plurality of spherical bosses 35 formed on a somewhat triangular shaped contact plate 36. The plate 36 is supported by and driven by a non-conducting contact carrier or disc 3'7 which is provided with a central opening including notches 38 for receiving tangs 39 respectively provided on the plate 36. A spring 40 at one end bears against the disc 3'7 and at the other end bears against a detent plate 42 and tends to separate the disc 37 and plate 42. The spring 40 urges the bosses 35 into engagement with the back 30 and the stationary contacts 31, and at the same time urges the bosses 43 of the detent plate 42 toward the end wall 22 of mounting cup 21.

The end wall 22 is provided with apertures 44 arranged in a circular path and each aperture is so arranged with respect to the bosses of the plate 42 so as to receive and yieldingly hold the bosses of the plate therein, or in other words hold the switch mechanism in a desired position as selected by the operator. This is accomplished by a driving washer or disc 50 having notches 51 about its periphery and the notches receive corresponding arranged tangs 45 formed integral with the plate 42. The tangs engage the notches 51 and extend into the notches 46 provided in the central aperture of the contact carrier 37. Both the contact carrier 37 and plate 42 are driven by the disc 50. The disc 50 has a central opening for receiving a reduced portion of a tubular shaft 53 forming a shoulder 54 upon which the disc 50 rests. The washer 50 is fixed to the shaft 53 by deforming or upsetting the reduced portion of the shaft over against the washer as at 55, illustrated in Fig. 1. The shaft 53 has a slotted and externally threaded portion 56 clamped on a portion of the rod 20 extending through the slotted portion of the shaft 53 by a nut 57 exteriorly of a mounting bracket 58. The bracket 58 is attached to the end wall 22 of the mounting cup 21, as by spot Welding or in any other suitable manner. Thus, the rod 20 actuates the disc 50, which in turn operates the plate 42 and contact carrier 37 to different positions through the tangs 45 engaging the notches 51 and 46 of the disc 50 and carrier 37 respectively.

The spring 40 maintains spherical bosses 35 of the movable contacts 36 in engagement with the 0k. steering'column, since identical parts may be switch back and yieldinglyholds the bosses 43 of the detent plate 42 in engagement with the apertures 44 of the wall 22, so that the movable contact 36 will be yieldingly retained in various positions into which it is moved by the actuation of the rod 20.

Rotary motion of the movable contact is limited by providing the detent plate 42 with an arcuate notch which receives a lug 61 formed integral with the end wall 22. The ends 62 and 63 defining the notch serve as stops that are engageable by the lug 61 in order to limit the movement of the detent plate 42 in either direction.

Interposed between the detent plate 42 and the disc 50,- there is a cushioning or collapsible spacer 64 that maintains the driving disc 50 adjacent a boss provided on the contact carrier 3? and tends to facilitate the assembly of the switch mechanism upon the end of the rod 20.

As shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 the supportingcup 23 is somewhat larger than the switch housing 27, and when in assembled relation therewith, provides a channel 65 between the casing 27 and the cup member 23. The channel is used whereby a cover member 66 is disposed over the switch assembly. The cover 66 and the cup 23 are provided with a bayonet and slot connection, as is Well known in the art, to secure the cover 66 to the cup 23. To insure proper retention of the cover to the housing, after being fixed by the securing means, an elastic means is provided, as a rubber ring 68, for engaging the peripheral edge of the cover 66 to keep the cover and the cup 21 in their associated relation and to eliminate noises or rattles.

As a protection of the switch mechanism within the casing against deteriorating effects due to adverse weather conditions, oil or grease, a felt washer or gasket 70 is inserted between the end wall 22 and bracket 58 when the bracket is assembled to the cup 23. The bracket is secured to the lower end of a steering column not shown by a bolt 72 passing through an apertured ear '73. The bolt holds the switch mechanism in axial alignment with the rod 20 when the bracket is secured to the gear housing of a steering column.

A slightly modified form of the mounting of the tubular shaft 54 and the driving washer 50 is illustrated in Fig. 8. The slotted externally threaded portion 56 of the shaft 54 is clamped to a portion of a rod extending through the switch back 30. In other words, the elements are constructed for assembly for different applications, in either of which the same parts are utilized. Obviously this result contributes to the standardization of parts for switches to be mounted on the bottom of the assembled to serve different lengths of controlling rods without requiring any change whatever in the construction of the parts themselves.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be unders ood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within th scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows: 1. An electric switch adapted to be mounted at the lower end of a steering column, comprising in combination; a mounting bracket; a cup member having a series of recesses, said member being attached to said bracket; a switch assembly secured within said cup, said switch assembly comprising, a casing; a switch back closing the casing and providing a number of contact terminals; a contact carrier rotatable within said casing; a driving member; a detent plate provided with bosses engaging the recesses of said cup and having means engaging said driving member and said contact carrier; a control rod and means securing the driving member to said control rod for actuating said detent plate and said 'c'ontact carrier for relative cooperation with said contact terminals.

2. An electric switch adapted to be mounted at the lower end of a steering column, comprising in combination; a mounting bracket; a cup member having a series ofrecesses, said member being attached to said bracket; a switch assembly secured within said cup, said switch assembly comprising, a casing; a switch back closing the casing and providing a number of contact terminals; a rotatable member carrying a contact member adapted to-engage said contact terminals; a driving member; a detent plate having provisions engaging the recesses of said cup member and provided with tangs for engaging said driving member and said rotatable member; spring means interposed between said rotatable member and detentmember for urging said detent plate toward the cup member and the rotatable member toward the switch back; an actuating rod; and means connecting the driving member with said actuating rod to operate said detent plate and rotatable member into selected positions.

3. An electric switch adapted tobe mounted at one end of a steering column, comprising in combination; a mounting bracket; a tubular member secured to said bracket; a switch back having stationary terminals, said back closing one end of said tubular member; a contact carrier rotatable within said tubular member; a movable contact supported by said carrier; a driving member; a wall having apertures in an arcuate row closing the other end of said tubular member; a plate having provisions cooperating with said aperture in said wall; spring means urging said. plate and carrier away from each other; means on said plate engaging said driving member and contact carrier; an actuator; and means connecting said actuator to said driving plate to operate yieldingly said plate and contact carrier to various positions.

4. An electric switch adapted to be mounted at oneend of a steering column, comprising in combination; a mounting bracket; 'a plate having a'series of recesses, said plate being secured to said bracket; a switch assembly secured on said plate, said assembly comprising, a tubular casing having one end closed by said plate; a switch back closing the other end of said casing and providing a number of contact terminals; a driving member rotatably supported by one of said end closures; a contact carrier rotatable between said end closures; a detent member rotatable coaxially with the carrier; spring means urging said detent member and carrier away from each other; driving connections between the detent member and carrier and permitting relative axial movement between the detent member and carrier; a control member; means connecting said control member to said driving member to operate yieldingly said detent plate and carrier to various positions.

HARRY E. NORVIEL. 

